“But you will not go to him?”
“I must.”
“No!”
She stooped, and before I knew what she was about, she took off one of her dainty slippers—warm from her little foot—and placed it in my hand.
“Give that to him,” she said; “you will be free and I shall know how to protect myself.”
“Mademoiselle!”
“In pity leave me! Go!”
I could not resist that. Besides, after a warning cough Éspiau thrust his head through the door and said quickly:
“Someone comes! You must hasten!”
I kissed her hand, and with one backward glance tore myself away.